Zero Sievert Ballistics

Ammo Penetration & Damage Calculator

Caliber

Ammo Type

Target Armor Class Class 3

Target HP (Approx)

Combat Analysis EFFECTIVE

Shots to Kill (Thorax)

Damage Per Shot

Penetration Value

0% Pen Penetration Chance 100% Pen

Surviving the Wasteland: Ammo Matters

In Zero Sievert, carrying the wrong ammo is a death sentence. A simple Hunter with a Mosin can one-tap you if you aren't wearing high-tier armor, and your fully modded AKM is useless against a Kibba-style boss if you are shooting PS ammo into Class 5 armor.

💡 The Rule of 10

To reliably penetrate armor, your ammo's Penetration Value should be at least 10x the Armor Class. For example, to defeat Class 4 armor, you generally want ammo with ~40 Pen or higher. Anything less results in damage reduction or complete ricochet.

Armor Class Tiers

Class 1-2: Bandits, Ghouls, and Wildlife. Vulnerable to almost anything, including Buckshot and hollow points.
Class 3: Standard Military Grunts. Requires standard AP ammo (e.g., PS, FMJ).
Class 4: Hunters and Green Army. This is the mid-game wall. You need dedicated AP rounds (e.g., BP, BT) to compete here.
Class 5-6: Bosses (Lazar, Arman) and Crimson Corporation. Only the highest tier ammo (M61, BS, Igolnik) will penetrate reliably.

High Flesh Damage vs. High Pen

Ammo like "Hydra-Shock" or "RIP" deals massive flesh damage but has zero penetration. This is the "Leg Meta." If you can't afford expensive AP ammo, aim for the legs. Armor in Zero Sievert currently covers the Thorax/Head heavily, but legs are often exposed.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best 7.62x39 ammo? +

BP (Armor Piercing) is the king of this caliber, capable of shredding Class 5 armor. PS is your budget workhorse for early game, while US is generally best avoided due to low velocity.

Does armor durability matter? +

Yes. As you shoot armor, its durability drops. Lower durability effectively lowers the armor's class, allowing lower-tier ammo to eventually penetrate. Rapid-fire weapons like the Vector rely on this mechanic ("shredding" armor).

Where do I find Class 6 ammo? +

High-tier ammo (M61, SSA AP, 7N39 Igolnik) cannot typically be bought from traders until very high loyalty levels. You must farm it from bosses, find it in hidden stashes in the Mall, or craft it using the Ammo Producer module in your base.

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